Fringe



H. MEHLER April 13, 1943.

FRINGE Filed April 6, 1940 NW//f/ IN VENTOR ATTORNEY.

www f Patented Apr. 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREYGE Hugo Mohler, Churchvlle, Pa.

Application April 6, 1940, Serial No. 328,223

(o1. ca -78) 1 Claim.

This invention relates to fringe such as is commonly employed to ornament the borders of various pieces of woven, knitted and braided goods.

At the present time there are several types of fringe available to the public, and while these fringes may have different characteristics, they all include fringe strands the extremities of which are free to move in such a manner as to impart undesirable features to the fringe. One very noticeable undesirable feature of the now known fringe is the likelihood of the fringe strands to assume a disorderly condition when in actual use. Thus, whereas the fringe strands are supposed to remain substantially flat in a single plane, there is nothing in the fringe structure which prevents invidual strands from coming out of alignment and imparting an unsightly appearance to the fringe.

It is also noted that inasmuch as the fringe is primarily designed to ornament the borders of various textile pieces, the turning of corners with the now known fringe results in the formation ,of gaps and zones over which the fringe strands are unevenly distributed with wide irregular spaces resulting.

With the foregoing conditions in mind this invention has in view, as its primary objective, the provision of a fringe of the character above noted which is essentially characterized as including fringe strands the movement of which is limited and restricted so as to obviate these undesirable features.

In carrying out this idea this invention has in mind the provision of a fringe which partakes of the characteristics of both a Weave and a braid. The invention, therefore, has in view, as a further object, the provision of a braided and woven fringe.

More in detail this invention has in view, as an object, the provision of a fringe including base threads and bight-like fringe strands with the fringe strands interlaced with each other to provide material support and restrict and limit the movement of said fringe strands. In attaining this objective the fringe strands take the form of bights having bases tied into the base threads and closed bends or apices remote from the base threads. other bights into a thread structure having the over and under characteristics of a, weave, and it is this feature of the fringe which imparts thereto the desired restriction on the movement of the bight strands. l l

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a fringe of the` character above noted Each of these bights is interlaced withA in which the base threads are interlocked with each other and with the fringe strands at their bases by a structure that partakes of the twist' characteristics of a braid and the over and under relation of threads which is characteristic of a Weave.

Still another more detailed object of the invention is the provision of a fringe of the type above described in which the bases of each bight are tied into the base threads at spaced points, thus' imparting to the said sides of the loops an angular and overlapping relation.

A fringe made in accordance with the above outlined objectives is particularly adapted to being joined to the edge of a Woven, braided or knitted piece which it is intended to ornament in anv almost infinite number of ways. Thus if the fringe is intended to border a braided piece the fringe strands are particularly adapted to being tied in with the braided structure of said piece with a wide variety of interlocks.

Still more in detail this invention has in View, as an object, the provision of a fringe of the kind above set forth in which each bight of the fringe strands might be characterized as including two sides with one side being disposed on one face of the fringe, and the other side on the other face. With this arrangement the desired over and under Woven characteristics are imparted to the fringe. At the same time a fiat, orderly ar-y rangement of the fringe strands is assured.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention will in part become apparent, and in part be hereinafter stated, as the r description of the invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises a fringe consisting of base threads and fringe strands with the base threads interlocked with each other and With the fringe strands by a structure partaking of the characteristics of both a braid and a weave.

vThe fringe strands extend outwardly from one sidev of the base threads and the interlocking structure thereat, and take the form of bights. Each loop has two sides which are joined at one end by a bend or apex remote from the vbase threads, While the sides of each bight are tied in to the base threads at spaced points, thus imparting an angular relation to said sides. The several bights of the fringe strands are interlaced with each other by a structure comparable to a y weave with one side of one bight lying on one f ace ofthe fringe, while the other side of said bight lies on the other face vdue to themutual overlapping and Enterlacing of the bights.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a plan elevation of one repeat of a fringe which is made in accordance with the precepts of this invention. In this view the threads and strands making up the fringe are shown in a distended relation so as to clarify the illustration, and

Figure 2 is a plan view, somewhat diagrammatic, of a portion of a piece the edges of which are ornamented by the fringe of this invention.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the fringe is shown as including fringe strands in the form of bights which are made from a plurality of threads. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention these threads are five in number, and are designated I0, II, I2, I3 and I4. It is to be clearly understood, however, that this number of threads employed to make the fringe strand is purely for illustrative purposes, and is not a limitation on the invention as the number may be varied Within a wide range.

As shown in Figure 1, the fringe also includes a pair of base threads I5 and I6, but it is noted that the particular number of the base threads is intended to be no limitation on the invention as the number might be varied. There preferably should be at least two base threads so that they may be interlocked with each other and with the fringe strands, but this number could be increased.

Referring for the moment more particularly to Figure 2, a piece which is intended to be orna mented by the fringe of this invention is shown as including a main body structure II having edges I8 and I9 to which a fringe carrying strip is attached as by stitching. It will be noted that the strip 2D is folded over at 2I to accommodate the turning of the corner between the edges I8 and I9. This strip 20 may be either woven, knitted or braided, and the outer edges thereof carry the fringe which is referred to in its en tirety by the reference character F.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention this strip 2D takes the form of a braided piece including threads 22 (see Figure 1) which are tied in with the threads making up the fringe proper.

At this point it is well to note that the drawing shows one way in which the fringe threads I0, II, I2, I3, I4 and base threads I5 and I6 are tied in with the threads 22. However, the manner in which this tying in may be accomplished is subject to almost infinite variation.

Referring again more particularly to Figure 1, it is noted that the base threads I5 and I6 cross and have an alternate over and under relation to each other at spaced points designated 23, 24, 25, 26, 21 and 28. Between adjacent points of crossing the base threads I5 and I6 are spread apart to accommodate the interlocking with the fringe threads Ill, II, I2, I3 and I4. In the fringe structure illustrated in the drawing there is one repeat between the crossing 23 and the crossing 28, that is five so-called spreadings of the base threads I5 and I6 make up one repeat. The number of these spreadings making up .the repeat is dependent on the number of fringe threads. Thus where five of the fringe threads are employed in the manner illustrated five spreadings will make one repeat, and when the fringe threads are interlocked with the base threads in accordance with the order herein shown the number of spreadings in one repeat will correspond to the number of fringe threads utilized.

In describing the interlocking thread structure of the spreading between the crossings 23 and 24 it is noted that the fringe thread I0 rst goes (speaking with reference to the illustrated relation of the drawing) over the base thread I5, after which it passes beneath the fringe thread I I and thence over the base thread I6. It is evident that thisrelation of the fringe thread I0 to the base threads I5 and I6 and the fringe thread I I therebetween is essentially the over and under" relationship of a woven fabric.

The fringe thread I0 now passes beneath the fringe threads I2, I3 and I4 and is thus interlaced with the bights formed by these threads. Thus from the interlocking structure at the base threads to the bend 29 the fringe thread IIJ lies on one face of the fringe. From the bend 29 back to the interlocking base structure the fringe thread I0 assumes a position on the opposite face of the fringe passing over fringe threads II, I2 and I3. After passing over these fringe threads II, I2 and I3 the fringe thread Ill goes beneath the base thread I6, over fringe thread I4, beneath base thread I5, over base thread I5, beneath fringe thread I I and over base thread I6.

Beginning now with the fringe thread II as it rst appears in the spreading between crossings 23 and 24 it is noted that fringe thread II rst goes beneath base thread I6, over fringe thread IIJ, under` base thread I5, over base thread I5, beneath fringe thread I2, and over base thread I6. This over and under path of the fringe thread II as it joins in with the base threads I5 and I6 and the fringe threads therebetween has al1 the characteristics of a weave.

After going over the base thread I6, fringe thread II passes beneath fringe threads I3, I4 and I0 and thus through the bights formed by these threads to the bend at 3G, thereby lying on the underface of the fringe. From the bend 30 fringe thread II goes over fringe threads I2, I3 and I4 and through the bights formed by these threads, thereby lying on the upper face of the fringe. The fringe thread I I then passes beneath base thread I6, over fringe thread I5, under base thread I5 and then c-Ver base thread I5 into the next spreading It 'is well to note at this point that the fringe thread II now assumes the position in the spreading between the crossings 24 and 25 that the fringe thread I0 occupies in the spreading" between the crossings 23 and 24, and this substitution of the relative position of the threads is followed out in the same orderly manner in the successive spreadings Now taking fringe thread I2 it is noted that this thread rst passes under base thread I6, over fringe thread II, under base thread I5, over base thread i5, under fringe thread I3, and over base thread I5. Fringe thread vI2 then passes beneath fringe threads I4, IIJ-and II and through the bights formed by these threads to a bend at 3|'. From the bend at 3| fringe thread I2 passes over fringe threads I3, lIf! and II) and through the bights formed by these threads and to the point where it crosses the base thread I5 in the next spreading between crossings -24 and 25.

Fringe thread I3 goes under base thread I6, over fringe thread I2, then under and over the thread 22, which, it is remembered, is a part of the braided strip 20. It is notable at this point that this thread 22 also passes both under and over the base thread I so that it is interlocked both with the base thread I5 and the fringe thread I3. The fringe thread I3 then passes beneath fringe thread I4 and over base thread I6. It then goes beneath fringe threads I0, II and I2 and through the bights formed by these threads to a bend at 32. From the bend 32 it goes over fringe threads I4. IIl and II and through the bights formed by these threads and to its crossing beneath the base )thread I5 in the next spreading Fringe thread I4 rst goes beneath base thread I6, over fringe thread I3, under and over base thread I5, under fringe thread Il) and over base thread I6. It then passes beneath fringe threads Ii, I2 and I3 and through the bights formed by these threads to a bend at 33, and from the bend at 33 it passes over fringe threads I 0, II and I2 and through the bights formed by these threads to its point of crossing beneath the base thread I5 in the next spreading The foregoing describes in detail the exact interlacing structure of the fringe threads among themselves and with the base threads in one spreading This exact order is repeated in each successive spreading with the exception that the relative position of one fringe thread with respect to one of the crossings is replaced by another thread. Thus whereas the fringe thread I0 is the first to enter into the interlacing structure in the spreading between the crossings 23 and 24, the fringe thread II is the first to enter into the interlocking structure in the spreadings between the crossings 24 and 25.

Similarly the fringe thread I2 occupies the same relative position in the spreading between the crossings and 26; the fringe thread I3 occupies the same relative position in the spreading between the crossings 26 'and 21, and finally the fringe thread I4 occupies this position in the spreading between the crossings 21 and 28. In the next spreading the fringe thread I0 occupies the same position described above in the spreading between the crossings 23 and 24, thus beginning the next repeat.

It is further noted that in the spreading between the crossings 23 and 24 the thread 22 is tied in with the fringe thread I 3. In the next spreading between the crossings 24 and 25 the thread 22 is tied in with the fringe thread I4; in the next spreading between the crossings 25 and 26 this tying in of the thread 22 is with the fringe thread I Il; in the next spreading between the crossings 26 and 21 it is with the fringe thread I I, and in the last spreading of the repeat with the fringe thread I2. Thus in one respect each of the fringe threads is tied in once with one of the threads 22 of the braided strip 20.

This assumption of each fringe thread of a different relative position in each spreading is an incident of the odd number of fringe threads employed. In this -connection it is notable that in each spreading one of the fringe threads crosses the lowermost base threads three times, whereas all the other fringe threads in that particular spreading cross the lo-wermost ybase thread only twice. For instance, in the spreading between the crossings 23 and 24 the fringe thread I0 crosses the base thread I6 three times, whereas the fringe threads II, I2, I3 and I4 cross the base thread I6 only twice. Then in the spreading between the crossings 24 and 2-5 the fringe thread II crosses the base thread I5 three times, whereas the fringe threads I0, I2, I3 and I 4 cross it only twice, and this holds true throughout the successive spreadings of one repeat with the fringe threads I2, I3 and I4 crossing the lowermost base thread of each spreading three times in successive order, whereas all of the other fringe threads cross the base thread of that particular spreading only twice.

It is notable that each of the fringe threads I0, II, I2, i3 and I4 crosses the lowermost base thread of each spreading at spaced points Afrom which each respective thread extends to one of the bends 29, 30, 3 I, 32 or 33, thereby assuming the Iangular relation illustrated.

From the point of one crossing of this lower most base thread to the bend, the particular fringe thread lies on one face of the fringe, and from the bend to the other crossing of the lowermost base thread it lies on the other falce. Thus each bight defined yby each fringe strand after it crosses the lowermost base thread is filled in by the loops of the other threads.

The above-described fringe may be made satisfactorily on a one thread lace machine commonly called the Torchon machine, or the Barmen lace machine; the latter name is derived from the fact that these machines have become associated in the mind of those skilled in the art with the town of Barmen, Germany, 'where they have been used for many years.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction illustrated and described, because Various modifications of these details may Ibe provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claim.

I claim:

A fringe of the character described comprising a base formed of a plurality of threads twisted together, a plurality of fringe threads wrapped around said base and being mutually interlaced -between intersecting points of the threads forming said base and providing a plurality of relatively tight securing bghts at spaced points along the linear extent of said base and providing outstanding fringe bights between said points.

HUGO MEHLER. 

